The RIC chapter also held its fall 2011 ceremony for new inductees on Oct. 21. Inductees

Merit Award scholarships are awarded to only 52 outstanding new NSCS members out of hundreds of applicants nationwide. The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an honors organization for high achieving first and second year students at 300 universities nationwide.

Merit Award recipients are selected based on how they honor and inspire academic excellence and engaged citizenship for a lifetime on their campus throughout their undergraduate experience as explained through a series of essay questions.

In addition to the $50,000 awarded to new NSCS members through the Merit Award scholarships, NSCS also awards scholarships for textbooks, study abroad programs and graduate school as well as community service grants and other merit-based awards.

The scholarship is distributed directly to Rhode Island College.

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an honors organization and member of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership is by invitation only, to eligible first- and second-year college students based on grade point average and class standing.

The organization and has more than 800,000 lifetime members and more than 300 chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (NSCS Facebook)